Despite being just one step away from coaching in the National Hockey League, the opportunity to come back and take charge of his alma mater University of Alberta Golden Bears was too good to pass up.

The 13-year pro and seven-year coaching veteran was named the new head coach of the Alberta Golden Bears on Wednesday.

"Some people might wonder why I would come back being so close to the NHL Ñ but it's all about family," said Herbers from his home in Milwaukee early Wednesday evening after guiding the Admirals to a 30-23-2-4 record after taking over for Kirk Muller, who jumped to the Carolina Hurricanes earlier this year.

"It's a big attraction to give back to the program that has been so good to me. I was fortunate to have Clare Drake and Billy Moores as coaches and they built the tradition and this is going to be a fun and exciting challenge for me.

"It's time for me and my family to come home, and being able to be part of the Golden Bears ... they're like a second family to me."

The Golden Bears hockey program has deep roots. It doesn't matter when players went through the program they remain tied to the organization in some way, no matter what path they've taken in hockey and in life after graduation.

It's what has made the program so successful as they enter their 100th season of university hockey this season.

"When you're a Bear, you're a Bear for life," said Bears general manager Stan Marple.

"Ian's a winner. He's won wherever he's played. He's a guy that's always had a leadership role on every hockey team he's played on. Ian's going to come in here, coach this team and focus solely on player development, he'll teach our guys what it takes to win.

"When we short-listed all the candidates and brought it to our selection committee Ian was everybody's unanimous first choice."

Herbers played four years for the Bears from 1988-92, winning a national championship in his final season. Herbers went on to play 65 NHL games with the Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders. The Jasper native also played in the minor pro ranks and in Europe.

The game of hockey has taken him all over the world, and now he's ready to put his own stamp on the Bears program.

"There are different routes to get to your dreams and goals. Playing for the Bears was a big part in the step of my development to help me grow as a person and a hockey player. I know how difficult it is, how challenging it is and how rewarding it is," said Herbers.

The Bears finished second in the Canada West regular season with a 20-6-2 record, but lost in the Canada West semifinals and failed to reach the national championship for the first time since 2007.

That resulted in the restructuring of the program. Marple was shifted to a newly formed GM role, and the Bears are now on their third coach in three years.

The program isn't in rebuild mode, it's more of a case of the rest of the Canada West catching up.

"The bar has been set high and that's part of the challenge. Our program has to keep finding ways to get better," said Herbers.

"I have a lot of work to do and I'm excited for it. I want to talk to each one of the players, get to know them as a person and start building that relationship.